Press Releases week beginning 21 March 2016

New planning manager for Hastings

Hastings Borough Council welcomes a new Planning Services Manager to head up Development Management.

Eleanor Evans joins the Hastings planning team with over 20 years' experience. She has worked at five different local authorities across the Hampshire and Dorset region, worked in the private sector and in the voluntary sector for Planning Aid.

Cllr Kim Forward the council's deputy leader and lead member for planning services said:

"We are very pleased that Eleanor has joined the planning team. Her extensive experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors has given Eleanor a well-rounded approach that she intends to apply to the service."

Eleanor added: "I'm delighted to join the team here in Hastings. I'm aiming to provide a service that is customer friendly, efficient and fair"

New Fishing Swims at Buckshole Reservoir

Three new fishing platforms or 'swims' have been built at Buckshole Reservoir; a popular area for fishing in Alexandra Park, Hastings.

Hastings Borough Council in partnership with Hastings, Bexhill and District Freshwater Angling Association (HB & DFAA) and their groundworks contractor The Landscape Group are pleased to announce the completion of three new swims.

Cllr Warren Davies, lead member for the environment explained:

"We are very pleased that the new fishing swims are now complete and ready in good time for the fishing season which starts at the beginning of April. This has been a project that HB & DFAA have been working on for a long time but due to the location and the steep banks of the reservoir it has been a very difficult task.

"All three new swims have sturdy steps and handrails down to a good sized flat area, where anglers can now fish the water comfortably and safely. We want to encourage youth participation in this sport and these swims will ensure that this popular area for anglers is now fully accessible and safe.

"We are committed to providing and maintaining quality parks and open spaces and this is an excellent addition to our award winning, heritage park, Alexandra Park."

Since 2003 the reservoir has seen an introduction of fast growing carp with many reaching 20lbs and some in excess of 30lbs. In addition to the carp the water holds a large number of Pike, Rudd, Roach, Eels, Perch and Bream.

Sam Carter on behalf of HB&DFAA added:

"The association are delighted with the work that has been carried out that makes fishing from this part of the reservoir far more accessible and more importantly safer. We hope that in addition to anglers that already fish this water the new swims will attract others into the sport."

Exciting new displays at Hastings Museum

Two exciting new displays 'Finding Our Place', a new vision for Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and a new display of the Museum's collection of early local history 'Before Hastings', have opened.

The Finding Our Place project funded by Arts Council England, through their Resilience for Museums programme has enabled the museum to look at every aspect of the work they do, from buildings to programming and governance to collections care.

"This project has encouraged the museum to look critically at what they do, as well as giving them the opportunity to consult with the local community, both people that regularly visit and those who have never been there. The results will help to plan the museum's future, with the aspiration of becoming a museum for the 21st century with something to offer all ages, interests and experiences.

"The interim findings from the community consultation, as well as architects' drawings are on display at the museum until 10 April."

Before Hastings officially opened by Cllr Dawn Poole (12 March), is a brand new local history gallery which focuses on this area before it became Hastings, more than 13,000 years from prehistory to the Saxons. The oldest object on display is a hand axe, dating from around 100,000 BC and the display also features the Roman bath house at Beauport and some of the specimens faked by Charles Dawson, maker of one of the most audacious archaeological hoaxes ever, Piltdown Man.

Cllr Poole added: "The interim findings from the recent community consultation have been instrumental in developing this beautiful display, and staff are delighted to have been able to act on their visitors' comments so quickly and with such success."

Before Hastings is a permanent gallery and is the first of two new local history refurbishments this year. Work has already started on the rest of the story - 1066 to the present day, a major exhibition in support of the ROOT 1066 International Festival marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, which will open in June.

New Homelessness Strategy for Hastings

Hastings Borough Council has drawn up a new Homelessness Strategy 2016-2018 to take account of new policy challenges emerging from the Government deficit reduction plans and welfare reform agenda and to address rising homelessness in the area.

Deputy council leader and lead member for housing and communities, Cllr Kim Forward explained:

"Homelessness is linked to a wide range of issues including mental health, crime and fear of crime, developmental problems, substance misuse, poor educational attainment and it could happen to anyone. The impact of homelessness on both individual households and the wider community cannot be underestimated.

"A combination of rising rents and a lack of affordable accommodation are making it increasingly difficult for local people, particularly some of the most vulnerable, to find accommodation suitable for their needs. It's imperative therefore that the council works with partners to seek innovative solutions to address housing need and look at new ways of joint working to provide holistic solutions for vulnerable members of our community.

"I'm very pleased that we have now drawn up this new strategy with our partners to guide our actions through to 2018."

The Homelessness Strategy 2016 -2018 outlines how the council will work with partners to tackle key issues, including rising levels of rough sleeping, the support needs of people with multiple complex needs, the poor health outcomes of homelessness people and substandard property and management standards in the private rented sector.

The council aim to work together with partners in Health, Housing, Social Care and related Support Services to meet three key strategic priorities: prevent and minimise homelessness, improve access to good quality, well managed accommodation in the private rented sector and work jointly to deliver quality housing and support services.

Council supports release of new classical CD

Hastings Borough Council supported an event last week (19 March) to launch a new CD by Hastings based award-winning composer and pianist Polo Piatti.

The council's lead member for culture, Cllr Dawn Poole who attended the event said:

"It was a great pleasure to attend the wonderful launch event of the new CD, Sentimental Journey recorded with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Polo Piatti.

"We are very privileged that he chose to launch his new album here in his home town and not London as would be expected. He has worked tirelessly to make classical music much more accessible to all, in particular by holding events in more informal venues and settings.

"The first classical concert I ever attended was the International Composers Festival which highlights Polo's skill at opening up classical music to a wider audience in Hastings. Polo's cultural contribution to Hastings including the International Composers Festival, Hastings Sinfonia and ClassicUs is extraordinary."

New website launched for arts festival

A new website has been launched for Root 1066 International Festival - a festival of contemporary arts.

The festival, inspired by the 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and funded by Hastings Borough Council and Arts Council England, aims to showcase Hastings and 1066 Country through a programme of high quality arts and culture.

The council's leader, Cllr Peter Chowney said:

"Hastings and 1066 Country has a growing reputation as a cultural hotspot for music and contemporary arts. ROOT 1066 International Festival will offer spectacular outdoor events, fantastic performances and exhibitions and exciting participatory projects across the area in Hastings, Bexhill and Battle.

"This new website www.1066contemporary.com will highlight all the events that will take place over the coming months and main festival period throughout September."

Festival events include:

'iy_project', a spectacular light and sound installation by world renowned Chris Levine

'Foregan: Blacksmiths on the Beach', a collaboration with local black smith Leigh Dyer and the British Artist Blacksmith Association who will produce a huge piece of public art in a live blacksmithing event in Hastings

a major exhibition of works by celebrated English artist and painter Marcus Harvey at the Jerwood Gallery.